A Clash of Kings - George R. R. Martin

Only a fool humbles himself when the world is so full of men eager to do that job for him.

Crowns do queer things to the heads beneath them.

The wide world is full of people wanting help, Jon. Would that some could find the courage to help themselves.

Love is poison. A sweet poison, yes, but it will kill you all the same.

Winter will never come for the likes of us. Should we die in battle, they will surely sing of us, and it's always summer in the songs. In the songs all knights are gallant, all maids are beautiful, and the sun is always shining.

A good act does not wash out the bad, nor a bad act the good.

We look at mountains and call them eternal, and so they seem... but in the course of time, mountains rise and fall, rivers change their courses, stars fall from the sky, and great cities sink beneath the sea. Even gods die, we think. Everything changes.

Tears (...) The woman's weapon, my lady mother used to call them. The man's weapon is a sword. And that tells us all you need to know, doesn't it?

You little fool. Tears are not a woman's only weapon. You've got another one between your legs, and you'd best learn to use it. You'll find men use their swords freely enough. Both kinds of swords.

— You’re awful.
— I’m honest. It’s the world that’s awful.